Improvement in grading-machines



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM SPALDING, OF PORT CLINTON, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRADING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 37,831, dated March 3, 1863.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM SPALDING, of Port Clinton, in the county of Ottawa and State of Ohio, have invented a new and Improved Grading-Machine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a side elevation of my improved machine, the nigh wheel of the wagon being removed. Fig. 2 is a top view or plan of the same.

Similar letters of v'reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

The object of this invention is to enable the farmer or other person having an ordinary farm or lumber wagon to adapt it, with but little outlay, to use as grading-machine for the making of or repairing common roads, turnpikes, &c., without lessening its value for all the purposes for which it is otherwise calculated.

The invention consists, iirst, in the manner of attaching a scraper and plow combined t-o the axles ofthe wagon; and, secondly, in the combination of certain devices for varying the inclination of the scraper and plow combined, and adjusting the depth to which it is desired to have them work in the ground, all as will be hereinafter fully explained.

.Io enable others skilled in the art to fully understand and use my invention, I will proceed to describe its construction and operation.

A represents the reach or body of an ordinary farm or lumber wagon; B B, the axles; O C, the wheels, and D the tongue of the same, all constructed and put together in the usual manner. E is a plank of hard wood, having attached to its front side a concave face metallic mold-board, K, which extends the entire length of the plank and projects below its bottom edge a distance equal to onehali, more or less, of its depth, forming a scraper which is chamfered on its back side from the bottom edge upward to where it unites with the plank, which is also chamfered. Fis an angular metallic plow-point, having a concave face, and attached to the forward end of the plank E by bolts or screws, the concave face of the plow being coincident with that of the scraper.

Extending from the top of the scraper in front are rods a a b b, by which the attachment of the scraper to the wagon is made in the following manner: The rods a a, which are rigidly attached to the scraper near opposite ends thereof, have formed on their loose ends hooks, which catch into a staple or eye, c, of a bolt secured in the forward axle, the connection allowing a free up anddown or vertical movement of the scraper. The rods b b are also rigidly attached to the scraper, and have formed on their outer or loose ends hooks, which catch into an eye, d, of a bolt, G, which passes upward through the hind axle, B', at a point just inside of one of the wheels, O the one on the side of the machine opposite to that of the plow. A screwwinch or lever-nut J is fitted on its upper screwthreaded portion, whereby the rear end of the scraper is adjusted in height to adapt the machine to form a grade of more or less inclination, or to hold the scraper in an elevated position for transportation to and from its place of work.

The inclination of the plow-point and scraper combined is varied or adjusted by means of a lever, H, to the lower end of which the scraper is connected by means of a cord or chain, e, which passes over a sheave attached to the side of the reach, and, being connected to the scraper about the middle, holds it in suspen sion.

The lever has a vibratory movement on a pivot, f, and is held or fastened in any desired position by a blade, g, which is attached to the inner side of the lever and engages with the teeth of a segmentrack, I, which may be attached to the reach by bolts formed on its lower ends, or it may be attached in any other suitable manner.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by my invention a great saving is effected to any one having an ordinary farm or lumber wagon in the cost of a grading-machine, by being able to use the wagon, without lessening its value for all other uses, for the running gear, which generally constitutes the largest and most expensive part of the machine.

The attachment of the scraper and plow combined to the wagon can be made with facility by any one at all familiar with the handling of tools.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desireto secure by Letters Patentfis- 1. The arrangement ofrods a ce b'b, in combination with staples or eyebolts c d, for attaching a plovir and scraper combined, asd-e# scribed, to the axles of an ordinary farm or lumber Wagon, thereby adapt-ing` said Wagon to use as a grading-machine, as speeied.

2. The pivoted leverH, segment-rack I, and chain e, in combination with eyebolts c d G, rods b b, and screw-Winch or lever-nut J, for raisingand lowering or adjusting the "inclination of the plow'and 'scraper combined,

when connected With a Wagon in the manner substantially as described.

' TheA above specification of my improved 

